Upper visual space neglect and motor deficits after section of the midbrain commissures in the cat

The neurological deficits following section of the midbrain commissures were studied in the cat. After a lesion of the commissures between the superior and inferior colliculi, with or without involvement of the posterior commissure, the animals showed a long lasting inattention for stimuli in the upper visual space, lack of exploratory head movements towards the neglected space, head ventroflexion and vertical paralysis of gaze. After a lesion of the commissure between the superior colliculi or of its rostral part only, the same symptomatology appeared, but it was short lasting. After a lesion of the posterior commissure, the head was kept dorsiflexed, the exploratory head movements towards the lower visual space were reduced and the stimuli presented in this space were often neglected. There was a paralysis of vertical eye movements. The findings are discussed in the frame of a premotor theory of neglect.